Officially, Jerry Doyle has retired as Tarleton State women’s golf coach after a stellar career marked by numerous awards and achievements.

The Eastland native, however, still has one charge to prepare for a golf career.

He intends to make a professional golfer out of his granddaughter, 4-year-old Chelsi. Whether that works out is in the future. What he was able to accomplish for the TexAnns leaves a tall task for incoming coach and former TSU star player Isabel Jimenez to continue.

Those around the Tarleton have called it the “Doyle Dynasty,” and with good reason. In 18 years, Doyle received 14 coach of the year awards. The pinnacle was when he was named Women’s Golf Coaches Association National Coach of the Year in 2008.

He also snared three WGCA West Region awards.

“Jerry Doyle put Tarleton golf on the map from the moment he stepped foot on campus,” TSU athletic director Lonn Reisman said in a release. “I’ve always said as an athletic director you are only as good as the coaches you hire and Tarleton has had the best in the country in Jerry Doyle.”

The TexAnns won 73 tournaments in 18 seasons and advanced to the NCAA Division II tournament 10 times, finishing in the top five seven times. Their best finish was third in 2014.

One of the first lessons Doyle learned was how much help he could get from international players. Among the countries represented at Tarleton during his tenure were Australia, England, Malaysia, Mexico and Spain.

Former Tarleton State head golf coach Jerry Doyle stands next to new coach Isabel Jimenez. Jimenez is a former player and takes over after Doyle's 18 years in charge of the TexAnns program.(Photo: Tarleton State Athletics)

Jimenez, a native of Spain, received the 2016 PING WGCA Division II National Player of the Year award. Sharon Lau from Malaysia was National Freshman of the Year.

“The very first time we played a tournament I saw that the international programs were more advanced,” said Doyle, who has lived in Eastland all his life. “I was lucky to get one from Malaysia by another high school in Fort Worth. From then on, it’s who at home is as good as you. But we had agents emailing us.”

It wasn’t just international players that excelled. Carla Cooper from Arlington was one of the best TexAnns ever. Also, there was the occasional Big Country golfer as well – Alesha Hurt from Eula and Jodie Neal from Baird. In all, Doyle coached 21 WGCA All-Americans with seven first-team selections.

Doyle, 65, graduated from Tarleton State in 1975. Before becoming coach, he worked in the golf industry. He and his wife, Cathy, who is an athletic secretary at TSU and also an Eastland native, have been married for 40 years.

“I have no plans for retirement,” said Doyle, who said his game is ‘decent but needs an overhaul.’

“I will spend time with my granddaughter. She will be a pro … I promise.”